How to Recover Deleted Photos From a CFexpress Card

Updated on Oct 18, 2026 | by Qiling

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Check the Camera and Reader
Preserve Camera Originals
Scan a Stable CFexpress Card
Verify Full-Resolution Images
Frequently Asked Questions

CFexpress cards are fast, but new shooting can still reuse space after deletion. Remove the card from the camera and do not format it until its important photos are secured.

Check the Camera and Reader

Confirm the photos are not on a second camera slot or in another folder. CFexpress card types and readers must match; a wrong or unreliable reader can make the card appear missing.

If Windows detects the card at its expected capacity, note its label and photo formats. A card that repeatedly disconnects or is not detected needs hardware diagnosis rather than repeated scans.

Preserve Camera Originals

Do not take more photos, record video, or use in-camera repair on the affected card. Avoid initializing it in Windows.

Prepare a separate disk with enough room for large RAW files. Record the camera's RAW extension and approximate shooting dates.

Scan a Stable CFexpress Card

Qiling Deep Data Recovery provides a visual scan of storage that Windows can detect. In this case, a compatible reader must expose the card as a stable removable device. A listed file is only a candidate until you open and verify its recovered copy.

Step 1. Connect a Compatible Reader

Power off the camera, remove the card, and attach it to a suitable reader. Cancel any format prompt from Windows.

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Step 2. Choose USB/SD Scan

Choose USB/SD Scan if the card appears as a readable removable device. Use Format Scan if it was deliberately formatted and Windows still detects it.

Step 3. Identify the CFexpress Card

Select the device by capacity and label; do not confuse it with the separate output disk.

Step 4. Inspect RAW and JPEG Files

Filter for the camera's RAW format and JPEG. Preview where supported, but test full-resolution copies after recovery.

Step 5. Recover to Another Drive

Click Recover for wanted images and save to the output disk. Open several files at full size before reusing the card.

Verify Full-Resolution Images

A surviving preview or embedded thumbnail does not guarantee the entire RAW image is usable. Open important files in a compatible editor.

Keep the recovered originals and a second backup. Replace the card or reader if connection errors recur.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any SD reader for CFexpress?

No. Use a reader compatible with the CFexpress card type.

Will a thumbnail prove the RAW photo is complete?

No. Open the full-resolution file after recovery.

Should I format the card in the camera first?

No. Recover and verify files before any format or new shooting.